Rap shines light on regime’s archaic thinking
Acouple of days ago I got over my reluctance and clicked on the new rap song on YouTube. The name of the song is Thailand 4.0 Rap: Thais Can Fight. Judging from the name, I had a strong feeling I was in for something awful. I have prejudices, I know, but I tried to be openminded. I really wanted to see how well the song was produced.
I have to say it lived up to my expectations — it was awful.
Halfway through the song, I scrolled down to read viewers’ comments. Many of them said they clicked on the video just to hit the “dislike” button. And the tally shows. Dislikes had many times more clicks than likes.
One thing I noticed conspicuously absent from the video was the rappers themselves. I find that strange. I think the main charm of a rap performance is the artists’ hand and body movements as they perform.
In this video, you see people at work, goods being produced, gleaming industrial plants and other such images that supposedly paint a rosy picture of the future. But no artists.
To be totally honest, it’s boring. It’s like something out of the Public Relations Department. It would have been more exciting if the rap artists were allowed to be seen.
But that’s just it. It’s a product of a mindset that is hemmed in by an archaic worldview. It lacks creativity, despite being the product of an organisation calling itself the National Innovation Agency.
The video was released right on the heels of another rap video that by now has been seen tens of millions of times.
The regime’s spokesmen have denied that the Thailand 4.0 video was meant to be a rebuttal to Prathet Ku Mee (What My Country’s Got) by the group Rap Against Dictatorship, saying that it had been planned months in advance.
But the timing of its release cannot help but confirm the widespread belief that it was meant to douse the overwhelming public enthusiasm for the other video.
It would have made for a lively contest if the video was done with an equivalent level of creativity and commitment. As it is, it’s just a poor imitation of Prathet Ku Mee. It’s clearly a rushed job with little inspiration; it lacks spirit and soul.
The video is the latest sign of the downward spiralling trajectory of a military regime trying to regain its bearings and momentum.
But they are so far off the path they had set after seizing power. Their declared objectives were to reconcile the two popular rivals, bring about political and social reforms, and eradicate corruption.
None of that has happened. All the regime has managed to accomplish thus far is to alienate a large portion of the population by depriving them of their freedom of speech and movement and widening social and income gaps.
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his friends must be in a panic. Just when the promised election is drawing near, their popularity is dipping precipitously and the opposition seems to have gained renewed vigour.
How else to explain the lack of a legal basis behind the police’s seizure of calendars bearing the likeness of Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck?
This came after they fell flat on their face in their attempts to censor the Prathet Ku Mee rap video.
One may argue it was his minions taking actions without direct orders. But such an illogical and knee-jerk reaction can only be explained by a desire to placate their superiors’ anger and fears.
Even the regime’s carefully crafted masterpiece of legislation — the constitution — now appears to contain major loopholes that have got them worrying.
Opposition parties have devised a strategy to counter the election mechanisms that are designed to fracture their popularity.
Some pieces of legislation passed by the National Legislative Assembly have had to be amended to avoid antagonising the public. Most recently, the muchhyped anti-corruption legislation is causing quite a headache and embarrassment to the regime.
Many prominent people who have sat on the boards of several universities and public organisations have rushed to tender their resignations after learning they are required to declare their assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Ironically, one of those is none other than Meechai Ruchuphan, the chief architect of the constitution. Mr Meechai, you may recall, has proudly called the supreme law he designed the “corruption smashing constitution”.
With all these developments, it’s no wonder Gen Prayut is in a foul mood again after promising to chill and smile more. He, after all, is apprenticing for a career in politics despite his reluctance to admit it.
But whatever obstacles he has to cross on his way to assuming the top job again after the February 2019 election, none may be as daunting as what a little rap song can do.
For that piece of artistic performance has spoken the mind of millions. Even more frightening is its potential to reawaken the youth from their stupor. And who knows what will follow after that.
‘‘ All the regime has managed to accomplish thus far is to alienate a large portion of the population.